By Janelle Foskett
CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas — A volunteer firefighter and his cousin were found dead on Tuesday, the victims of a shooting, and an Austin man has been arrested in connection with their deaths.
The bodies of Klayton Manning, 18, and his 16-year-old cousin were found by deputies with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office after a caller reported two subjects “down,” reported KVUE.
Manning was a volunteer firefighter with the Southeast Caldwell County Fire Department.
According to FirefighterCloseCalls.com: “A Polaris side-by-side utility vehicle was found on scene, and the sheriff’s office said it appeared the two were driving the vehicle down the road when they encountered the shooter. While unconfirmed, there are reports that indicating Firefighter Manning may have stumbled across criminal activity while investigating smoke in an area. We are awaiting confirmation as to that, and if his murder will be declared as an LODD.”
On Thursday, 34-year-old Bryan Haynes of Austin was arrested at a home in Bastrop County. He is currently being held on a capital murder charge.
The Texas LODD Task Force stated on its Facebook page that the group will be assisting the department and the family.
https://www.facebook.com/txloddtaskforce/photos/a.205098099590511/2534789969954634/?type=3